2025-02-04 - Pinky and Spicy - Reunited Once More

Earlier today there was a wedding at the castle, and now is the reception. The main part of the reception is inside where it is warm, but guests also mingle out here where the catering staff is walking around with glasses of wine and champagne, as well as little appetizers. Performers from the cast of Spellbound has also been hired for entertainment.

Being at chef at Chapters Lee isn't always part of the catering staff, but someone has to be around to make sure they food that is being passed around is up to the standards that the park has a reputation for. He is lingering around where the wait staff come and go, is black and maroon chef uniform telling anyone that passes what he does. His long white hair, wrapped in a bun at the back of his head and held in place with wooden hairpins.

One of the performers who was part of the wedding entertainment was Theo Whitaker. He has taken on the role more of a singer than the dual role he does of singing and storytelling. This means he's in the colors that Castle Island is known for. Now that there is a break from his own entertaining portion, he strolls around the area, hoping to find something to drink. Singing does take a lot out of him sometimes. Or maybe it is just nerves. He uses a copper bracelet on his wrist to help ground him. A year and change, and still, he gets performer anxiety. Mood ring eyes take in the surroundings and the food. Since he's on the job, he can't really drink wine or champagne.

He approaches Lee since they look like they can answer his query. "Hello, I was wondering where I could find some water or maybe even some water?" Giving the other being a hopeful look as he says this.

That is something that Lee can easily answer so when Theo comes up to them and requests the water, the chef gives him an easy smile "If you can wait a few minutes I can have someone bring you out a some." they tell him before stopping a waiter on their way in with the request "Would you please bring our singer here some water." as the waiter nods an affirmation, Lee nods back "Thanks." the waiter heads inside to do as they were asked.

"How is the crowd? Are they enjoying the reception?" they are stuck here for the time being, though they would rather be mingling and asking the guests themselves.

There is a look of relief coming from Theo when Lee tells him that water can be found. Watching the exchange between the chef and the waiter when the waiter asks a question. Theo tells the chef and waiter both, "Thank you. I much appreciate it."

A glance at the crowd inside and some that are still out there. "You know, weddings bring joy to a lot of people. They seem to enjoy themselves, and I have heard many favorable compliments about the food. I assume that was your doing?" A curious look is given to Lee as he asks this. "I'm Theo. I am not sure if we have met." His hand is extended in the other's direction if they wish to shake it. If not he will put his hand back to his side. Not an issue.

"No worries." Lee replies in a vague north mid-western accent that doesn't quite fit the local one, but is close enough to pass. "I can imagine singing dries you out pretty fast."

Their own glance follows that of Theo, most the one that takes in the guests outside. "Yes, receptions are one of the more drama free affairs. Though I have seen some stuff." they give a laugh that borders on bubbly. "The food is a team effort. For a reception this size there are five of chefs, a few sus chefs, and a number of other assistants." Lee isn't going to take all the credit for the spread "I'm Lee." they will take the offered hand to politely shake it. "We haven't. I only started in November. There is a lot of people I haven't met yet."

When Theo speaks it is with a North Carolina twang. Proof that he is not from Michigan originally.

There's a soft ah sound when Lee explains that he has recently arrived. "There are a lot of people employed here." He'd agree with Lee.

He also listened when Lee broke down how receptions are done from the chef's perspective. "That almost sounds similar to what we do on the entertainment side of things. We have the main entertainers and then backups just in case something happens and we need a replacement." Since Theo has been here a while, he's probably one of the main entertainers for this kind of thing when a singer is wanted. He depends on his voice more than instruments.

"There are what, sixty thousand employees or so?" Lee ponders out loud to Theo "I only have 59,897 to go. I better get to work." they may be making numbers up. No one keeps track of how many people they have met.

Lee listens as Theo explains how things work in their position "What are those called, understudies?" he asks. "Which part of the park do you do most of your performing in?" the waitstaff is quite efficient, so it isn't long for the water to come back with Theo's water, which is handed over, before they go hand out more glasses of wine from the tray they hold on one hand.

Theo grins when he hears that number from Lee. Amusement flickers in his features as he nods thanks when the water is handed over to him. He will take a minute to drink some of this water before speaking. "Yes, understudies. You have that right. I actually perform here on Castle Island." He turns as if to get his bearings, then points to the Lamplight Amphitheater. "Right over there. That is where they had the New Year's Eve event. There was a concert and fireworks. I'm unsure if you heard about the big blue ball streaking across the sky. That is where it happened. I was there and saw it with my own eyes."

He pauses to sip more at his water and then speaks again. "I am the show right before the fireworks that Trace is in charge of."

There is a look in the direction that Theo points "That's one of the places where everyone wants to end up right?" Lee asks with curiosity "Like you have to start as a street busker and then work your way up to the Castle?" they don't know how it actually works, but it sounds like it could work that way.

"I was there." there were a lot of people at NYE's "That was wicked. Did anyone ever find out what that was? I am assuming there is a connection between the blue sphere and how a lot of people woke up slightly different." they give a gesture to the snow white hair they have done up neatly for work.

As the two talk somewhere off in the ornamental garden the staccato trill of some kind of animal can be heard. Animals aren't a common thing around here, at least none that would sound like that, birds and squirrels, maybe a rabbit or two, but nothing that should sound like that. After a few seconds the trill repeats.

"I am not sure," Theo tells Lee. "When I first applied, that is where I was assigned." He must have really wowed whoever looked over his application and did his interview. No complaints from him! "I also think River Villiage is a hot spot, too. I am just grateful for where I was placed."

He draws in a breath and lets it out. "My roommate Jett thought he might have had something to do with it because we all had got caught up in a dream, and he was part of the team that figured out the puzzle. It was a confusing dream as I was just trying to help where I could. We investigated it later with a group and searched in the water. Our group did not get too far. Peyton and Jett almost drowned. I took a diving class. I forget what it was called. I think there will be another try to see what is in the water. I heard it was shipwrecks, so I think that is where the blue ball ended. It is all still a mystery, and I am eager to help solve it."

He points to himself. His eyes are mood rings, and gold lines run about his body. "You probably are right. I sometimes wonder if the island is alive, and as a result, so is the magic, and that is why we got affected like we did."

Whatever else he was going to say, he stopped. He heard that. "Uhh....you hear that right? I am not hearing things?"

"Wait, wait, wait." Lee has to gawk at this dream bomb that just dropped. Typically they are calm, cool, and collected, but shared dreams, lucid ones are enough to tweak anyone's composure "You were all in the same dream?" it's hard to believe but so is magic, and lots of people around here have that.

Lee did notice the eyes and gold, and assumed that was the NYE's thing that caused it. "I could easily believe the island is alive." they comment before their snowy brows furrow as they hear the strange tune. "Yes...I mean you aren't hearing things. I heard it too." they look around, "The guests don't seem to though." they point deeper into the garden "It sounded like it came from that way."

"Yeah, there was a huge group of us. I remember Esme and Huck being there because they were fighting. I was with Ari, Jett, and Lavender." More people were likely, but those were the ones that stuck out to Theo most because he was working with them, and some were his friends.

He puts his water glass down. It was drunk, and he figured a waiter could pick it up later or he will clean it up later. "I want to investigate. Do you want to come with me? Maybe I can mimic the same tune...." He is a singer and has heard that song a few times.

"So weird." Lee's says if the shares dream. "Cool, yeah, but weird." As for all those names, they don't recognize any of them.

Lee speaks in their earpiece mic about how they will be back, but will still be in radio contact. "Let's go." They say to Theo, Lee isn't about to be left behind. "Not a bad idea." They fall into step beside Theo, having no trouble keeping up with the taller man. They fall silent while Theo sings the notes, and when the notes are echoed from a large bed with evergreen holly bushes and dormant roses bushes they turn that direction. But then the pair hear faint sounds of it repeated again somewhere else in the ornamental garden.

As Theo sings the notes as he hears them, and then there is a response back, he sort of stops and leans in a little more. He's not quite sure of what it is he heard exactly, and he is turning to look at Lee.

"Do you think that was one response or two? Such as an echo, or do you think there are two things we might be dealing with?" He doesn't know. The island has been weird and interesting at the same time. He never knows what to expect around here. Hence the ask. Two is better than one, in his opinion.

It's not as well lit in this area as it was where the guests are so Lee takes out their cell phone and turns on the flashlight to points it towards where they heard the first tune from. "The timing didn't seem right for it to be an echo." though from the tone they don't seem all that sure. "Echoes are immediate right?"

As they both approach closer to the bed with all the pokey bushes in it, the tune is heard again from nearby, and then a few seconds later it is repeated in the distance "That sounds like two."

"I think so," Theo tells Lee. He also pulls out his own phone to give better light once he sees Lee doing that. His eyes go wide. "Oh my gosh, I think you are right!" He has no idea what he and Lee have walked into, but he's crouching to see if his light will explain what they might have encountered.

"Hey...." He does that tune again to where he thinks it's closer. "We won't hurt you." He looks over at Lee.

"Maybe see what this one is if it identifies itself and then go to where we heard more of the distance sound?" Attempting to explain what it is he's doing.

"Have you been following the employee forums?" Lee asks as they try to pinpoint the exact location the tune is coming from. "About those creatures people have been finding?"

"Sounds good." They nod in agreement with the plan so far. The tune seems to come deep from the bushes when whatever it is trills again. "I'm smaller. I will go around the other side, crawl in and try to send it your way." They move quickly, disappearing around the bush filled plant bed.

"Oh, you think that is what this is?" Theo says in wonderment. "I did read what had been going on. I just...." He frowns a little. "Are they just popping up out of nowhere?" He had not been paying attention to where these creatures were being found but that people were wondering what they were.

He nods to show he heard Lee and he's okay with the plan. He tries to shine his phone flashlight deeper into the bush to help Lee with his findings, but hopefully, he doesn't blind the chef. That isn't his intention.

Lee shrugs to all that "We won't know until we get our eyes on it." That said before they disappear around and into the bushes.

The singing from the bushes is cut short, as a rustling and muttered, what is probably curses in a what sounds like an Asian language comes from the cluster of holly and roses, flashes of white and maroon can be seen cross the path of the flashlight as Lee crawls on hands and knees. All this is followed by a rustling closer to Theo "I see something, but I can't make out what exactly I am seeing in dark." it's probably in silhouette for them. "It's coming your way." they warn a few seconds before a pink ball of furry fluff comes darting out from under the bushes.

Theo waits patiently to see what will happen next. Making sure to try and shine his light to help Lee. Blinking a little when the singing cuts off. "What....." But then Lee is warning him that the creature is coming towards him and he's not certain what he's suppose to do and if this whatever can be captured.

"Oh my gosh!" Eyes widen when he sees the ball of furry fluff as he tries to scope it with one hand since his other hand is holding his phone. "Lee! See! I think it is a rabbit? I have never seen one in this color." Theo smiles at the snugglebunny. "Oh you are a cutie aren't you? Are you lost little friend?"

"Did you get it?" they ask before crawling out from under the bushes, hair a bit a mess with a few leaves and a twig caught in it. "Oh! You did!" They exclaim getting to their feet at seeing that yes, Theo caught the little squirming pink rabbit looking creature with the black, alien eyes.

There is a bit of squirming and anxious trilling at first from the creature, but once snuggled up against Theo's chest it starts to calm down some. "That thing is so cute it should be against the law." Lee brushes off their hands and knees of the dirt and mulch that is clinging to them. "There must be another one around here as well."

"I did," Theo says quietly when Lee resurfaces. He attempts to stick his phone back in his pocket as he stares at this pink bunny that looks like it belongs in another world not from here. So many questions run through Theo's head, but none he says out loud right now because he is entranced by this creature and how it is settling in with him. "It is." Theo laughs the vibration of the laugh probably felt by the pink rabbit as he does that.

Finally, his gaze goes toward Lee, and he notices how messy the other's hair has gotten. He grins. "Want me to help you? You got some leaves and a twig caught up in your hair." Theo waits to see if his help will be appreciated.

He then turns to look at the garden, especially as they are not where the crowd was. "I am not sure where we heard the second sound. I remember thinking it was an echo and you explained how it couldn't be." He begins walking forward and more to the edge of the garden. "Wonder if his friend got caught in a bush to?" Eyes scanning the area when they get closer to a different cluster of foilage.

Lee has been watching the pink bun in Theo's arms, but with the question and follow-up statement their gaze lifts, as do their hands to run across their hair to try to find the unwanted hitchhikers "Not surprised. I kept getting caught on branches and thorns." They may even have a scratch or two, but they are less concerned about that. They dislodge some of the debris "Yes please, if only to make sure I got it all."

"Can you make it sing that tune again?" Lee asks of Theo. "Maybe the other one will answer again and we can follow the sound." they follow along, shining their phone flashlight into the various plant beds and bushes so both of them can see into them better.

Theo steps forward, ensuring he has a good cradle to the bun in his hand as he helps Lee get rid of any of the debris they may have missed the first go around. He even goes around to where Lee's back is and gets pieces there. "Okay. I think you are good as new." He smiles as he says this.

When asked to sing it again Theo nods once he returns to Lee's side. "Yes. I have a better understanding of what the tune is. I don't think it is that difficult. It's charming in fact." He says this as he looks at the cute pinkness in his hand. "Maybe you have a friend, hmm?"

As they get closer to the bush, in case there has to be another catch, Theo does those same trills that both he and Lee heard earlier. This makes the little one in Theo's hands perk up and look around. Pinky maybe sensing something special is about to happen. Hopefully.

"If only." Lee jests clearly meaning them as a whole and not just the hair. "But close enough." the long, stray locks of white are tucked behind pierced ears, which has work appropriate earrings in them a hoop and a few silver studs.

Once more Lee is silent as Theo sings the notes, as well as impressed by the skill that is put into it for just a creature, cute as it may be. There is a confused sounding trill from off to the right, this time is some dormant azalea bushes, and the pink bun in Theo's arms trills an answer, which is repeated by what is most likely it's friend in the other bushes. "It sounded like it was over there." Lee begins to head that direction, readying themself to go bush crawling again.

Theo grins at his new friend. Having caught the jest that Lee did on themself. "Too bad the island didn't make us like new. But I do like the hair and the earrings. It suits you." But yes, he got busy doing the singing thing. It might look ridiculous to others who may not know what is happening, but Theo is used to performing. In this case it is performing for the pink ones and for Lee.

When he hears that his song has been successful he smiles wide. "This is all so very fascinating." He murmurs as he takes a finger to stroke the back of the one rabbit that has been caught. Especially when it sings back to the music they heard in those bushes.

Theo follows Lee as the other one starts to head that way. "I think you are right. This is so exciting!" He laughs at himself because it really is the simple things that make him happy even if its like seeking pink treasure.

"You know, you say that, but I don't believe whatever power is doing all this is done with us yet." Not that Lee is any sort of precognition. "This feels like the beginning of something, not the middle, and certainly not the end." their hand lifts to an ear where they touch one of the earrings between fingers "Thanks. The hair has taken some getting used too, and my parents kind of freaked out about it." They shrug, since there isn't anything the can really do about it. They have white hair now, nothing they can do about it.

"It is. What are these animals? Where are they coming from?" Answers neither of them can answer at the moment. There is a sigh as they both get to the bush "Here I go again." Guess getting all the twigs and leaves from their hair was kind of pointless. They drop to their hands and knees, well one hand, since the phone is in the other, and they crawl under the large group of dormant flowering bushes.

"Yeah, you are probably right." Theo agrees with Lee. "I mean, I can't remember how long this park has been around, but I think once people got hired, it started waking up or something. I got my taste of magic when I walked on the property."

Nodding when they speak of their parents. "I have not FaceTimed my parents at all since the change. I don't want to know what they think." He laughs as he admits this.

Another look to their hair, "Have you tried dying it? If so, does the color stay?" Squinting. "Probably not, I imagine. I tried many things when I first changed, and everything returned. It did go away when I went on that ski trip that Michael put on."

Theo looks at the animal that he is holding onto. "You know when that weird music played when we decorated for Christmas? I wonder if they were a part of that? I really do not know." Ah, the mysteries of the island. Theo is probably too curious for his own good.

Chuckling when Lee makes it to the bush once again. "I'll take out whatever debris you get caught in again!" Trying to be supportive. Theo digs for his phone again and uses it for a light on the other side, telling the one in his hand, "If you see your friend squeak or something." He grinned as he bent to shine the light in the bush. He sees those black eyes peeking out at him. "Lee! If you put your hand to the left, I think you can get it!"

"I have tried dying it and cutting it. The next morning it is back to white and down to here." they tap the side of their hand just below the hips to indicate the length "Why though?" they haven't figured that part out, give them a few minutes at it will come to them. "Facetime then from the mainland. Problem solved."

Lee has no idea either and speculation will only give them more questions. There is rustling of leaves that haven't dropped from the azalea bushes, as Lee scrambles to the left at Theo's guidance, "Missed it." there is more movement, Lee's is much more noticeable than that of the other small pink bun like creature. "Come here." they coax "Your friend is waiting." rustle, scramble, rustle "Got you!"

After a few more moments, Lee crawls out from under the bush, the pink creature held with one arm, and strangely a couple of thin ropes of their hair, which has been unloosened from its bun, also wrapped around the bun to support it better. Lee is breathing slightly heavy, and the bun is eyeing everything suspiciously, but isn't trying to get loose "Man, this one is spicy." Lee says as they get to their feet. Again they have debris in their hair, and they are sporting some scratches on their face.

Theo's eyes trail to where Lee puts their hand when they show how long their hair gets. "That is amazing." Theo has decided to embrace the weird and the whimsy around here. If he's going to live and work here, he will keep open-minded about things. Including when things change weirdly for everyone.

"Oh that is a good idea. I did not consider that. Thanks." But there is another snuggle bunny to catch, and Theo tries to stay alert as a result. He grins as he notices Lee and what they are doing and finally for the prize caught. A snugglebunny can be considered a prize. Right? Well that is how Theo sees it.

"Your hair," Theo says in awe. "You can use it like rope?" But then he is distracted because there is another bun to meet. "You should name it Spicy!" He laughs. The one that Theo is holding starts making noises when it notices the one that Lee is holding and looks like he's going to bounce right off of Theo's hand to join the other.

"Whoa! Wait!" He doesn't know exactly what this rabbit can do and doesn't want to lose it again, so he warns Lee. "Invading!" Stepping into Lee's personal space, the two can look at each other and speak in their trills. It must be their version of language. While the two are sniffing each other, Theo, with a free hand, will try to help free the debris caught in Lee's hair. "Hopefully, neither of us has to go back into a bush. I have heard that these babies like to be paired together, or did I hear wrong?"

Lee is staring at the hair that is wrapped around the bun "Uh, yes, seems I can." That's news to him. Not bad news, but weird news. But in light the the accomplishment, they recover quickly. "Spicy...Xīnlà da" (shin-la da), they smile at Theo and the suggestion "That's a great name."

With the two bunnies chirping, trilling, and sniffing at each other, Lee's hair unwraps from the bun and falls limp into place on each side of their face. "Talk about hair having a life of its own..." they aren't sure what to make of it, but they will stay still while Theo helps with their hair. "Thanks again. "I don't know where my hair sticks went, but I have plenty more at home."

"It's your turn if we do." They tell Theo with veiled amusement as they stroke the bun between the ears. "I think so. If they are bonded mates I would hate to separate them. But I'm not sure keeping them together unsupervised is a good idea until we know more about them."

Theo grins at Lee when it seems this is a first for them regarding what their hair can do. "Yeah, I didn't know I was all bright and golden until Jett shoved his phone in my face so I could see for myself." He shrugs. "I also ran to the bathroom to see for myself. Otherwise, I don't do anything about the cosmetic changes. I don't think I could even if I wanted to."

Theo leans in, which makes Pinky nudge their nose against Spicy. Theo speaks in a quieter voice, "Hello, Spicy, nice to meet you. I think you already know Pinky." He might come up with a better name later, but it seems he is sticking with Pinky for now. Real creative, but well, you work with what you got. Wait until they go gray, and that will be a really interesting name.

"Do you make your own hair sticks or do you buy them?" He did notice them earlier. He grinned when told that he was the retriever if there were any more snuggle bunnies. "Deal. It is only fair."

Nodding. "I guess we have some reading to do, huh? Maybe they will be ok since they are reunited and maybe come back for a play date?" He does not know all the details quite yet.

"Well unless you looked in a mirror right away it would be hard to notice." For Theo anyway. Harder not to notice your hair longer by half and white. "At least we could hide ours if we wanted to. Wigs, makeup, sunglasses. Those with wings, tails, and horns...." Are they lucky, depends on who is asked.

The reach out to pet Pinky, as the two sniff and Spicy starts to groom Pinky. They look up, it's hard to see Theo's eyes in the dim light. "Their cool eyes, the way they change." They nod then "Yeah, see what updates are on the forum, ask some questions maybe. We should get them together to visit frequently."

"I recall reading that they like fruit. There is some leftover fruit from the reception dinner. Let's go back and see if they want something to eat." And people are probably starting to wonder where the both of them have gone off to.

"Yeah, I guess we are lucky in a way. We can hide it if we need to." Theo agrees. "I think my eyes change because my magic is empathy so I can pick up feelings." They shine a bright blue because Theo is excited about this reunion.

"We totally can share information." He will attempt to hand over his phone as he lets Pinky and Spicy get to know each other. He can't wipe the smile off his face because he loves this reunion.

"Yes, let's do that." Ready to move when Lee is ready.

"That's a dicey bit of magic I am glad I don't have." Dealing with their own feels is bad enough, having to deal with other people's, no thanks

Wow...you are like, beside yourself." Lee is amused by Theo's excitement about this weird bun situation. The smile on their own face hinting that they could burst with laughter at any moment. The phone is taken, and contact information is put in with one handed, and a bit clumsily, they text themselves with it. 🐇 Lee 🐇 is what they input their contact as, then the phone is handed back.

Lee starts to walk back to the reception area, the bun in their arms squirming in their arms so it can keep eyes on Pinky.

"Yeah. It can make for interesting times." Theo admits. "It failed me once, and it was a doozy. Otherwise, it hasn't been terrible."

Theo laughs when he hears Lee's next words. "I do enjoy animals. I grew up with a dog. Can't say I know much about rabbits. Especially these kinds, but I am looking forward to learning more about them." He's already thinking of how to house the creature and feed it. All the things a new pet owner would think about.

Theo, for his part, takes a selfie of him and Pinky and sends it to Lee's phone so he would have Theo's information before he pockets his phone once again. He also walks beside Lee so Pinky can stare at Spicy. This one wants to make sure Spicy doesn't leave them again.